Twice upon a time in Prague

By Frank Kuznik, 25 October 2015

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Reviewed at National Theatre (Národní divadlo), Prague on 22 October 2015

Stravinsky, Le Rossignol (The Nightingale)

Tchaikovsky, Iolanta

Czech National Opera and Chorus

Jan Latham-Koenig, Conductor

Dominik Beneš, Director

Martin Černý, Set Designer

Zuzana Přidalová, Costume Designer

Olga Jelínková, Nightingale

Yukiko Kinjo, Cook

Stanislava Jirků, Death

Josef Moravec, Fisherman, Alméric

Pavel Švingr, Chamberlain, Bertrand

Jan Šťáva, Bonze

Aleš Jenis, Emperor, Robert

Veronika Dzhioeva, Iolanta

Aljaž Farasin, Vaudémont

Yevhen Shokalo, King René

Yvona Škvárová, Martha

Vladimir Chmelo, Ibn-Hakia

Prague National Theatre Orchestra

A disappointing Cunning Little Vixen in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 29th April

The National Theatre in Prague should be the second-best place in the world to see Leoš Janáček's charming opera The Cunning Little Vixen. But its current production, new in the repertoire this season, is such a disappointment.

***11

Singing carries the show in new Prague Ballo

Frank Kuznik, 5th October

The National Theatre opens its new season with a Verdi favorite short on substance but lovely to hear.

***11

L'Orfeo, the world's first great opera, premieres at Glyndebourne

Roy Westbrook, 14th June

One element of the Orpheus myth is about creativity, so at Glyndebourne, William Kentridge sets Monteverdi's opera in an artist's studio,

****1

Darkness without passion: Damiano Michieletto’s Carmen at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 12th June

Despite Michieletto's visual gloom, the evening is redeemed by Myung-whun Chung’s masterful conducting and a cast that brings conviction to a production that rarely trusts the opera’s own dramatic power.

**111

Aldeburgh Festival dives in at the deep end with Pelléas and Mélisande

Eleanor Knight, 12th June

Rory Kinnear directs a minimally semi-staged performance of Debussy's problematic opera at Snape Maltings, but Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish SO provide the detail.

****1

Monteverdi and Ulisse return happily to Garsington Opera

David Karlin, 12th June

Laurence Cummings and John Caird’s second Garsington exploration of the operas of Monteverdi brims with wonderfully playing and singing in an attractive setting.

****1

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.

Twice upon a time: Le Rossignol and Iolanta in Prague